Looking ahead - recapping today's press conference

[Matt Cotcher]

Charlie Strong met with the media to wrap up Fall camp on Thursday - LOOKING AHEAD

 

[Lukus Alderman]

I'm interested in whether or not he is planning on redshirting Heard.

 

[Topstarr]

OK, I am STAYING.........just messing

 

[CCausey11]

The other question I have is about Whitely.  Is he going to redshirt or just not an option if they are moving Beck into #3

 

[Matt Cotcher]

The other question I have is about Whitely.  Is he going to redshirt or just not an option if they are moving Beck into #3

That's a valid question. Moving Beck to TE would suggest a RS for Whiteley. But it's also true that the depth a LB is much stronger than at TE.

Until someone connected to the team tells me otherwise, I'm planning on not seeing Whiteley this year.

 

[doc longhorn]

I'm interested in whether or not he is planning on redshirting Heard.

Well, I think that can be easily answered if you were in Strong's place.  His starter is a gimpy QB that has yet to finish a season.  If that is Ash's trend, then the odds are he won't finish this season either.

That leaves Swoopes and Heard as the only QB's on the roster.  I know Strong would rather RS Heard, but he has to be aware that if Swoopes goes down as well - Heards shirt is yanked.

So, I would say that he intends to RS Heard this year, with caveats.

The big question is what if Ash goes down and Swoopes is horrible?  Can he afford to play the season with Swoopes?

Personally, I don't see Swoopes being any worse than Case McCoy and Swoopes has more physical skills than he did.

 

[Lukus Alderman]

Well, I think that can be easily answered if you were in Strong's place. His starter is a gimpy QB that has yet to finish a season. If that is Ash's trend, then the odds are he won't finish this season either.

That leaves Swoopes and Heard as the only QB's on the roster. I know Strong would rather RS Heard, but he has to be aware that if Swoopes goes down as well - Heards shirt is yanked.

So, I would say that he intends to RS Heard this year, with caveats.

The big question is what if Ash goes down and Swoopes is horrible? Can he affor to play the season with Swoopes?

Personally, I don't see Swoopes being any worse that Case McCoy and Swoopes has more physical skills than he did.

You make some good points, but let's say we get to game seven or eight and Ash goes down. Swoopes is thrust into the lineup, leaving Heard a play away from getting some snaps. Would it be wise to throw Heard out there with zero experience that late in the season and burn his shirt in the process? Or would it be better to burn his shirt early and give him some PT in a package or in mop up time against the lower portion of the schedule?

 

[HornEsch]

I am sure Strong loves the situation at QB he was left with. I honesty don't think there yes a "right" answer. I think if Heard is ready to be able to play meaningful snaps, to almost have to take a look at him at some point this year. If he isn't then it becomes simple.

It really is a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation. Then again that is why he gets paid the big bucks.

 

[GBT]

Didn't we get a preferred walk on from Blinn JC as a back up plan ?

 

[doc longhorn]

You make some good points, but let's say we get to game seven or eight and Ash goes down. Swoopes is thrust into the lineup, leaving Heard a play away from getting some snaps. Would it be wise to throw Heard out there with zero experience that late in the season and burn his shirt in the process? Or would it be better to burn his shirt early and give him some PT in a package or in mop up time against the lower portion of the schedule?

Once again, if you were Strong, what would you do?

If I was CS I would take the position that Heard has been practicing the entire time and, regardless of experience, he should know the plays.  Besides, in some point of his career, he is going to enter a game with no game experience anyway.

I would have no compunctions about playing him, less game experience, if i had to.

 

[Duke C #11]

doc, I understand your thinking, but I have to go with Swoopes right now, simply because the coaches have just named him as #2. Going with "the new kid in town" is a popular choice with lots of fans, but coaches have to look at it from the point of view of who do I trust TODAY?